Meteorologist loses eye in Iowa fireworks accident

The chief meteorologist at WXYZ-TV in Detroit lost an eye in a Fourth of July fireworks accident while in Iowa, the news station says.

Dave Rexroth was vacationing with his family in Iowa City when the accident happened last Friday, the station says. Rexroth, who is currently hospitalized in Iowa City, will have his damaged left eye replaced by a prosthetic eye.

"As Dave recovers, we’ll provide updates on his progress – and we look forward to his return to Action News,” says WXYZ Vice President and General Manager Ed Fernandez.

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The Red Wing Republican-Eagle cited a state survey of hospitals, which said there were 60 fireworks injuries reported in Minnesota from June 25 to July 15 last year. Most of those injured were males under the age of 40, the survey said.

The National Fire Protection Association says in 2012, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 8,700 people for fireworks related injuries. The association says 55 percent of the emergency room fireworks-related injuries that year were to the extremities and 31 percent were to the head.